Get Rhythm
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(Genesis 2:1-3)
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years … 18 to govern the day and the night” … And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
(Genesis 1:14-19)
Resting in God is about a lot more than simply taking one day off a week. Before the Bible teaches us about sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3, it teaches us about rhythm in Genesis 1:14-19.
We are told that the Lord created the sun and the moon to govern how we live our lives. Each day begins with darkness, so we awake from our sleep to find that God has been working for hours without us and invites us to join in with what he is doing. It’s easy to forget it if you live in England, but for most of the world it becomes too hot to work at noon, which is God’s way of inviting people to take a rest and to enjoy some food and conversation during the heat of the day. The different months and seasons of the year also bring different opportunities for us to take a rest in God. Everywhere you look in the world, you can see this God-given rhythm in creation.
Somebody has said that we cannot break God’s commands – we can only break ourselves by disobeying them. So how many of our problems do you think are caused by our neglect of these God-given rhythms? British people sleep 2½ hours less a night than they did fifty years ago. A third of British workers reportedly never take a lunch break. Can it simply be coincidence that, at the same time, stress and anxiety are greatly on the increase too. So do yourself a favour as we restart our lives with God. Get rhythm. Learn to live as God created you to live.
We are told that the Lord created the sun and the moon to govern how we live our lives. Each day begins with darkness, so we awake from our sleep to find that God has been working for hours without us and invites us to join in with what he is doing. It’s easy to forget it if you live in England, but for most of the world it becomes too hot to work at noon, which is God’s way of inviting people to take a rest and to enjoy some food and conversation during the heat of the day. The different months and seasons of the year also bring different opportunities for us to take a rest in God. Everywhere you look in the world, you can see this God-given rhythm in creation.
Somebody has said that we cannot break God’s commands – we can only break ourselves by disobeying them. So how many of our problems do you think are caused by our neglect of these God-given rhythms? British people sleep 2½ hours less a night than they did fifty years ago. A third of British workers reportedly never take a lunch break. Can it simply be coincidence that, at the same time, stress and anxiety are greatly on the increase too. So do yourself a favour as we restart our lives with God. Get rhythm. Learn to live as God created you to live.
1) During lockdown, what insights have you gained into the ways in which your life before was stressed-out, rushed and disconnected from the healthy rhythms of God?
2) What changes did you resolve that you would make to your life after lockdown?
3) As we begin to move out of lockdown, how are those changes going for you so far? It’s not too late! What might God be trying to teach you today about submitting to the God-given rhythms of the life that he has given you?
2) What changes did you resolve that you would make to your life after lockdown?
3) As we begin to move out of lockdown, how are those changes going for you so far? It’s not too late! What might God be trying to teach you today about submitting to the God-given rhythms of the life that he has given you?
Father God, I confess that I live in a crazy-busy and stressed-out culture. I find it hard not to get caught up in its ways. I don’t always stop to rest at mealtimes, and I can often rob myself of sleep. What’s worse, I often see it as a virtue. Right now I confess my humanity to you. I have limits and I need rhythms. Help me to live your way. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.